In the animated adventure Missing Link, Sir Lionel Frost (Hugh Jackman) is a fearless adventurer who investigates myths and monsters. He cuts a dashing figure globetrotting, but his peers don’t believe his latest “discovery” because he has no proof. But Sir Lionel wants recognition, so he sets off on yet another adventure. This time it’s…
The word gritty doesn’t do justice to Galveston. This hard-boiled, downbeat crime drama features a host of questionable characters and some bravura acting. Ben Foster never fails to impress and is perfectly cast as a 40-year-old debt collector with a major health issue. Elle Fanning adds to an already impressive resume as prostitute Rocky, who’s…
The Happy Prince tells the tragic story of Oscar Wilde’s final days. But this lyrical and poetic film is also harsh and unrelenting. In short, it starts with Wilde from his death bed, and traces back what led him there. In a cheap Paris hotel room, the past comes flooding back. He is transported to…
Stephen King writes scary horror movies and Pet Sematary, which came out in 1989, is one such example. I didn’t see the original, so I have no point of comparison. Nevertheless, judging this remake purely on its merits … it’s intense and creepy. Pet Sematary follows Dr Louis Creed (Jason Clarke), a doctor who relocates…
DC Comics has often played second fiddle to Marvel when it comes to box office success, but perhaps the tide is turning. First we had Wonder Woman, then Aquaman and now Shazam! It plays on the idea that we all have a superhero inside of us. In Billy Batson’s (Asher Angel) case, by shouting out…
Where Hands Touch sheds light on how Germans treated bi-racial people during WWII. The Nazis contempt for Jews is well known (and again features in this film) but the focus is on a bi-racial teen and her increasing victimisation. It’s 1944. In the Rhineland, Lenya (Amandla Stenberg) is coming of age. She’s the teenage daughter…
Robot Song is an energetic, highly creative new work from Arena Theatre Company – and specifically writer, director and designer Jolyon James. What a wild ride it is, but one well worth taking. The love and laughter in the room on opening night were infectious. Eleven year-old Juniper May (Ashlea Pyke) is in her final…
In Swimming with Men, Rob Brydon stars as Eric Scott. Eric’s a middle-aged accountant suffering a mid-life crisis, who finds new meaning by joining an amateur men’s synchronised swimming team. His wife, Heather (Jane Horrocks), has just been elected as a local councillor and can’t understand why her husband is becoming increasing distant. The film…
Jordan Peele’s (Get Out) latest horror-thriller, Us, explores the concept of evil doppelgängers. Peele writes, directs and co-produces. He’s played on his fear of look-alikes. Lupita Nyong’o is Adelaide Wilson, a woman returning to her childhood home. She’s bringing her husband, Gabe (Winston Duke), and their two children, Zora (Shahadi Wright Joseph) and Jason (Evan…
The original animated version of Dumbo (Disney’s fourth feature film) came out in 1941. It’s now it has been re-imagined in live action form. Circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) enlists former circus star Holt Farrier (Colin Farrell) and his children, Milly (Nico Parker) and Joe (Finley Hobbins), to care for a very different newborn…
